Localized multiple-fuse for electric switch assemblies



Jan. 8, 1935. I L. BREDL 1,987,547

LOCALIZED MULTIPLE FUSE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCH ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 29,1934 lo cal? 712626 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTother Louis Jack Bred], PittjsburgliyP'a assi g'iior of onefifth to KarlJ. Pittner, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application January 29,

1934, Serial b. 708,892

2 Claims. (01. 200-125) The invention relates to a localizedmultiplefuse for an electric switch assembly.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fuse of thischaracter, wherein the same is arranged localized with respect to anelectric hand switch and is readily accessible so that when a fusebecomes destroyed a new fuse can be brought into operative position insubstitute for the destroyed fuse, thus eliminating the necessity of aperson being required to go to a distant'point for fuse replacement, thereplacement being usually located within a cellar of a building, andsuch inconvenience being entirely eliminated and at the same time thereplacement of a fuse being had with dispatch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fuse of thischaracter, wherein the fusible elements are multiple and carried upon aninsulating wafer in a manner that such elements can be successivelybrought into position for replacement of a burnt or blown fuse and suchwafer is mountable upon the cover plate of a switch box and isaccessible for the adjustment of said wafer for fuse replacements as theoccasion may require, thus eliminating the use of the conventional fuseplug, either of the single or multiple-fuse type.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fuse of thischaracter, wherein the construction thereof and its mounting is novel inform and localizes the fuse with respect to an electric hand switch sothat it is convenient and susceptible of being actuated with dispatch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fuse ofthis character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughlyreliable and efficient in its purposes, readily adjusted and replaced,and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of theinvention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a switch having in its assembly the fuseconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the cover plate for the switch box,showing the fuse carried thereby and one fusible element of such fusebeing disclosed burnt or blown.

Figure 3 is a vertical'longitudinal sectiona'lview through the switchboxand the assembly of the switch.

Figure 4 is adetail plan view of thefuse detached. 8 6

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughouttheseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generallya'portion'bf'a switchbox, this being of conventionalfkind countersunk-in a supportor wall; a'por'tion thereof being designated at B. Within the switch boxis located the switch block 10 having the hand operated trigger switch11 of conventional style working through a suitable clearance 12 in acover plate 13 which may be ornamented or of any design desirable, thesame being removably fastened to the support or wall B to conceal theswitch box A within the recess therefor in said support or wall.

Adapted to be carried at the inner face of the plate 13 is a,multiple-fuse comprising an insulating disk or wafer 14 having at itscenter a metallic eyelet 15, while next to the periphery of said disk orwafer, at equidistances apart, are the metallic eyelets 16, and radiallyarranged at one face of said disk or wafer 14 are the fusible strip-likeelements 17, these being engaged at their inner ends with the eyelet 15and at their outer ends with the eyelets 16. Carried by the plate 13 isa stud 18 on which is removably fitted for rotation the multiple-fuseincluding the disk or wafer 14 and the fusible elements 17. The plate 13has formed therein an arcuateshaped slot 19 which is adapted to registerwith the eyelets 16 of the multiple-fuse and this slot 19 is of anextent to permit of manual adjustment of the fuse to properly locate oneof its fusible elements 1'7 in the electric circuit having the switchblock 10 and switch trigger 11 therein, the fuse being movable forreplacement of a fusible element through the instrumentality of asuitable implement engageable in a selected eyelet 16 so that the diskor Wafer 14 can be turned for use replacement in the electric circuit.

Arranged on the inner face of the plate 13 beyond the periphery of thedisk or wafer 14 and at opposite sides of its axis of rotation, are thesockets 20, these being connected by a jump wire 20, and permanentlyengaged with one of the sockets 20 is the contact 21, while adapted forinterchangeable engagement with the respective sockets 20 is the leadwire 22 of the electric circuit; the other lead wire 23 being engagedwith a binding post 24 of the switch block 10 the switch block 10 beingin circuit between the said post 24 and the pigtail wire connection 25carrying the spider contact 26 engageable upon the stud l8 and common tothe respective fusible elements 1'? of the device. The contact 21 isengageable with the fusible elements 17 and has a wiping action thereon.The interchangeable feature is convenient according to the wiring of theswitch block 10.

It will be understood, of course, that the blowout occurring at theswitch affects only that particular circuit including said switch, or,in other words, the one room in which the blow-out occurs is the onlyroom aifected,

The multiple-fuse is suitable for switch or a service plug, as should beapparent.

It should be apparent that by reason of an overload of the electriccircuit having the switch block 10 therein the operative fuse elements1'7 will blow or burnout, it thenbecoming necessary, through the use ofa suitable instrument, to engage it through the. slot 19. with an eyelet16 in the multiple-fuse and then rotate the disk or wafer 14 eitherclockwise or counterclockwise thefull length of saidslot, which willbring a fresh or. unburnt fuse element 17 into position with the contact21 for replacement of the burnt or blown fuse, thus reestablishing thecircuit, It will be apparent that the multiple-fuse is localized withrespect to the switch trigger 11 and is a service convenient forreplacing burnt fuses with dispatch.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fuse of the kind described, an insulation wafer of disk formhaving a plurality of radially disposed fusible elements, an eyeletcentrally of the wafer and common to said fusible elements, a pluralityof eyelets arranged peripherally of said wafer and engaged by saidfusible elements, a switch box cover plate having a slot therein, andmeans for mounting the wafer at the inner side of the plate to locatesuccessively the fusible elements within an electric circuit and theperipherally arranged eyelets accessible through said slot.

2. In a fuse of the kind described, an insulation wafer of disk formhaving a plurality of radially disposed fusible elements, an eyeletcentrally of the wafer and common to said fusible elements, a pluralityof eyelets arranged peripherally of said waferand engaged bysaidfusibleelements, a switch box cover plate having a slot therein, means formounting the wafer at the inner side of the plate to locate successivelythe fusible elements within an electric circuit and the peripherallyarranged eyelets accessible throughsaid slot, and a contact for a leadof said circuit and the fusible elements and mountable interchangeablyat opposite sides of the switch box.

LOUIS JACK BREDLP

